I really like the 110 Plus one in stain reaction OB. That orange belly seems to be the ticket. Elegy bone gets bit as well. Don't be afraid of a SPRO McStick in Blue Bandit either.
They're getting really hard to find also. I check ebay every now and then and will buy a couple. I tend to lose a lot of crankbaits. I don't know if it's my lack of patience when I hang up, or if it's using lighter line. I also figure that if I have to buy them in weird colors, that I can always trim a crankwrap or something to make them look how I want.
On 10lb Sunline it runs 10-12. It has a lot of action and last spring I crushed them on the Scatter Rap Deep in Ike's Mule when the guy fishing with me couldn't get a bite on the RK Crawler. It made me a believer that sometimes that having a slightly different crank than everyone else makes a huge difference sometimes.
I'd rather throw the 6th Sense Curve 55 every now and then too. I really like them and the Scatter Rap deep. Much different look than what is getting thrown all of the time around here.
Happy Birthday! I notice that every fish is hooked right between the nose holes. That grass jig hooks them that way better than just about any other jig that I've ever used. Kudos to you on that design!
Clearly I went to the wrong place yesterday. We fished Bull at K-Dock and it was chocolate milk and the dock was still under water. That lake is up quite a bit.
I've always wanted to splurge on a high dollar spinning reel, but I've not hardly been using them like I used to. I got so tired of getting Ned rigs hung up that I don't throw it much. I'm using them for crappie and shakey heads more than anything. Maybe to throw a small Keitech.
Well, I guess my issue is with the MDC and their refusal to stock bass. The hypocrisy of stocking other species but not bass is a tough pill to swallow when other states are very successful in their efforts. It's hard to compare any of the lakes that you listed above to any lakes in Missouri just based on the fact that ALL OF THEM are stocked with LMB. I'll never understand stocking paddlefish or trout when the biggest economical impact is the bass. Just from a business standpoint, it makes very little sense.
I'm not sure if it's the same at Grand, but it does get hammered. Just look at the facilities there. Wolf Creek is the nicest boat launch facility I've maybe ever seen. It's there to attract tournaments. They do have a lower length limit on Grand at 14 inches, but I'm also under the impression that they stock Florida strain LMB there. I wasn't just suggesting stocking LMB on Table Rock alone either. It needs to be done on all lakes. It's only a matter of time before boat traffic increases on Bull.
I have a good friend that has bow killed a ton of deer at Busiek. You have to get away from the easily accessed parts, but before he bought a place he bow hunted there constantly.
I had one over 5 and 3 more over 4 late this summer on Bull. Before this year, I'd never had a keeper smallmouth over there. You're right though, they're very long and lean compared to a 5lber in Wisconsin or Minnesota.
I like the phantom colors some days too. Honestly, I started throwing a Scatter Rap deep in Ike's Mule or Demon last spring when I fished with someone throwing the RK Crawler. It was amazing how having something different made a difference for me.